House of Death

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The House of Death refers to a serial killing site in the Mexican city of Ciudad Juárez, Chihuahua, where executions were committed by members of the Juárez Cartel, some with the knowledge and participation of a United States agent ("Lalo") who had infiltrated the cartel. According to policy of the United States Department of Justice, agents are not allowed to participate in acts of violence.

Guillermo Eduardo Ramírez Peyro, named "Lalo", a paid informant of the U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE), part of the Department of Homeland Security, and DEA, had infiltrated the Juárez Cartel.^[1] In this situation he worked with Heriberto Santillán Tabares and helped him to murder people in Mexico. Lalo had forehand knowledge of planned killings and claims that he informed his US handlers of the intended crime.^[2] It has been asserted that US officials including Johnny Sutton, the United States Attorney of United States District Court for the Western District of Texas were aware of the murderous activities of the informant, but failed to intervene.^[3]^[2] Juanita Fielden, Assistant US Attorney, is a defendant in a law suit for wrongful death brought forward by families of victims of the "House of Death".^[1]

Torture and executions of suspected rivals and double-crossers took place until January 2004. Once the Mexican government got notice, a mass grave containing at least twelve bodies was found in a house on 3633 Calle Parsonieros, Ciudad Juárez, dubbed the "House of Death."^[2] Santillon was convicted of trafficking by Johnny Sutton, but in a plea bargaining agreement not accused of murder, and Lalo, the former informant for the US government, sits in a high security prison awaiting extraditon to Mexico, according to him a death sentence.^[2] He claims that the United states government still owes him money.^[1]

Subsequent to the publication of the "House of Death" story, the investigative journalist of Narco News, Bill Conroy, received intimidating visits at his office, his home, and a visit to his employer from officers of Immigrations and Customs Enforcement, an event that prompted a letter by Congresswoman Cynthia McKinney reprimanding Sutton for "an attempt ... to intimidate a journalist who has reported facts that are embarrassing to him".^[4]